CMS Grau announces successful integration of a Legal Team to consolidate its Real Estate & Construction Practice

Franco Soria and Pedro Pablo Castañeda join CMS Grau, raising the firm's total number of partners to 27. Both possess extensive technical knowledge and experience in the real estate sector, having participated in high-profile operations.

Rolando Cevasco, Managing Partner of CMS Grau, said:

"The addition of Franco and Pedro Pablo, who were previously part of CMS Grau, along with a solid team of associates, strengthens our ability to support our clients in large-scale projects. We have been offering comprehensive services for years and are pioneers in providing an integrated approach that combines legal and technical advisory services, a proposal that has become a market reference. In this context, where specialised planning and a multidisciplinary vision are key to the sector's development, this integration will allow us to continue supporting our clients with strategic and comprehensive solutions."

Alongside the two partners, associates Renzo López, Valeria Umeres, David Cox, and Santiago Méndez are also joining, consolidating a team of 11 lawyers specialised in real estate law, co-led by CMS Grau partner Carolina Gajate. Carolina is an expert in real estate and construction matters and previously led a team of four specialist associates: Gustavo Atarama, Carmen Assereto, Anai Salazar, and Alonso Maguiña. This integration positions the practice as one of the largest in the market, offering services ranging from the structuring of real estate projects to advisory on permits, licenses, and financing.

Franco Soria commented:

"I am excited to return to CMS Grau, a firm with which I share values and purpose. I know the firm and its commitment to doing things right. I am confident that together we will consolidate a differentiated value proposition for the real estate market at a key moment for the country's development.

In recent years, the real estate and construction sector in Peru has undergone significant transformations. These changes are driven by the implementation of new regulatory frameworks for urban development projects, the promotion of state land auctions, and the adoption of advanced technologies aimed at improving project efficiency and sustainability.

Pedro Pablo Castañeda commented:

"This scenario requires specialised planning and comprehensive advisory services that enable clients to seize new market opportunities for the success of their projects, as well as address the challenges associated with urban regulations, sustainability, and project financing."

In turn, Carolina Gajate, CMS Grau's Real Estate & Construction partner, added:

"This synergy of an entire team of lawyers not only consolidates our real estate team in the market but also reaffirms CMS Grau's commitment to our clients, strengthens our responsiveness, and is part of our strategic growth, always for the benefit of our clients."

CMS Grau has established itself as one of the country's most recognised law firms, offering a comprehensive range of transactional and non-transactional legal services. The firm continues to strengthen its presence in the main economic sectors, with an innovative approach and strategic support for its clients.

About the New Partners

With over 20 years of experience, Franco Soria specialises in real estate law, land regularisation, and the development of urban and rural projects. He has been a partner in the real estate and land regularisation area at Rubio Leguía Normand and CMS Grau, where he worked for almost eight years. He has also held key positions in the public sector, such as Director of the National Superintendence of State Property (SNB) and consultant at COFOPRI – the Peruvian Agency for the Formalisation of Informal Property. His career includes determining feasibility for the acquisition and regularisation of land needed for mining, energy, infrastructure, retail housing, telecommunications, and agribusiness projects in several of the country's major developments. He provides comprehensive advisory services that combine an integrated and strategic approach to ensure the feasibility and execution of real estate projects.

Pedro Pablo Castañeda has over 15 years of experience specialising in real estate, registry, administrative, and arbitration law, as well as managing institutional relations with various public and private entities. He has led significant real estate projects in various sectors, including retail, mining, energy, and infrastructure, with a particular focus on obtaining licenses and permits for the development, construction, and operation of shopping centres and the retail sector in general. Before joining the firm, Pedro Pablo was a partner at Rubio Leguía Normand, Corporate Deputy Manager of Institutional Relations at Real Plaza shopping centre chain, and previously Senior Property Lawyer at Hochschild Mining and Associate at CMS Grau. He also has experience in the public sector, having worked at the National Superintendence of State Property (SBN).

With the incorporation of these new professionals, CMS Grau's Real Estate practice consists of a legal team of 3 partners and 8 associates, along with a technical team of engineers and consultants, positioning it as one of the most robust and experienced practices in the market.